Colombian president’s alleged relationship with drug trafficking was publicly debated in the country
United States authorities are investigating Colombian President Gustavo Petro, for alleged connection with drug traffickingpublished this Friday (20) by The New York Times, in an article contested by Petro, who denies any links with criminal groups. “I have never spoken to a drug trafficker in my life,” Petro reacted on X. “In Colombia there is not a single investigation into any of my relationships with drug traffickers,” declared the left-wing president.
Two lines of investigation were opened by the Courtin Manhattan and Brooklyn, with the collaboration of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said the newspaper, which cited sources from Donald Trump’s government. A source with knowledge of the investigations told AFP that “Petro has already been the target of other investigations into drug trafficking”, but did not mention when. “No charges are imminently anticipated.”
A Petro’s alleged relationship with drug trafficking was publicly debated in Colombia. His eldest son, also the target of Washington sanctions, admitted to having received large sums of money from a person convicted of drug trafficking in the United States, but stated that the funds never reached his father’s election campaign.
O Colombian president said this Friday that he was a victim of conspiracies by drug traffickers to harm his political career, and even to assassinate him. At the same time, he tried unsuccessfully to negotiate peace with guerrillas and other organizations accused by Washington of drug trafficking.
The relationship between United States and Colombia entered a volatile phase when Trump returned to the White Housea year ago. The republican government clashed with Petro’s leftist project, which has been in power since 2022 and seeks to unite allies in Latin America against Washington.
To theAmerican offensive launched in September against vessels allegedly loaded with drugsfirst in the Caribbean and later also in the Pacific, diplomatic tension increased.
Amid the war of declarations between the two presidents, Washington revoked the visa and imposed economic sanctions against Petro and members of his family. He also threatened to carry out military actions in Colombia, after the capture of the president of Venezuela in January.
Trump and Petro, however, opened an unexpected door for dialogue, and the two had a friendly meeting in Washington last month.
*AFP
